ABOUT
About this spot
Lake Tofutsu is a brackish lake on the Okhotsk Sea coast of northeastern Hokkaido, straddling Abashiri and Koshimizu. It covers about 900 hectares, has a shoreline of about 27 km and a maximum depth of about 2.5 m. Its name is said to come from the Ainu word for "mouth of the lake". Registered as a Ramsar wetland on 8 November 2005, it receives more than 60,000 geese and ducks every year, including whooper swans, and about 250 bird species can be seen through the year. In summer, irises bloom in the wetland and horses graze quietly along the shore. Koshimizu Natural Flower Garden, known for its flowers, is nearby. The Tofutsuko Waterbird and Wetland Center in Hakucho (Swan) Park, run by the Ministry of the Environment, has exhibits on the lake's nature and wildlife, and its parking lot (19 spaces) is free. It is open 9:00-17:00, closed Mondays (next day if a holiday) and 31 Dec-5 Jan, and admission is free. In the cold winter months, whooper swans and more than 50 other migratory species rest on the lake. It is about a 10-minute walk from JR Kitahama Station. The park is within walking distance of Kitahama Station on the Senmo Line, so it is easy to stop by on a rail trip between Abashiri and Kushiro. The year-end closing dates differ between sources, so check before you visit.
Last updated October 26, 2026